Self-storing knee rest for medical examination table and the like



Dec. 28, 1965 E. R. WEICKGENANNT ETAL 3,226,105

SELF-STORING KNEE REST FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION TABLE AND THE LIKE Filed July 11, 1962 INVENTOR. EGON R. WEICKGENANNT JOHN A. MAHER BYE:

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,226,105 SELF-STDRING KNEE REST FOR MEDICAL EXAMINATION TABLE AND THE LIKE Egon R. Weickgenanut and John A. Maher, Rochester,

N.Y., assignors to Ritter Company, Inc., Rochester,

N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 11, 1962, Ser. No. 209,173 9 Claims. (Cl. 269-324) This invention relates to a self-storing knee rest section for a medical examination table or the like.

One object of our invention is to provide a self-storing knee rest section for a medical examination table or the like which, in a stored position, constitutes a part of the leg rest section of a table of this nature.

Therefore, it is a significant object of our invention to provide a knee rest which may be conveniently stored in a usable position, as part of the table with which it is used.

A further object of our invention is the provision of a self-storing knee rest which is adaptable for forming a part of the leg rest section of a medical examination table or the like when in a stored position, and may be telescoped to vary the length of the leg rest section.

Another object of our invention is to provide a knee rest, which when stored forms a part of the leg section of a medical table, so that when the leg rest section is articulated, with respect to the seat rest section of the table, to a substantially vertical position there is no interference with the floor of the doctors examining ofiice or the medical room in which the table is otherwise used.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a reversible knee rest having a knee rest surface and a foot rest table surface adjustable longitudinally of the leg rest section thereby to provide, in the alternative, a knee rest or a foot rest or table for the doctors use, adjustable to a selected position relative to the seat rest section of the table.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be particularly set forth in the claims and will be apparent from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top planar view of one embodiment of our invention and illustrated in broken line at the alternative position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of our invention illustrated in FIG. 1 with the leg rest section, including the knee rest section in the stored position, articulated substantially 90 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of our invention illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side elevational views of the embodiment of our invention illustrated in FIG. 1 with parts shown in some of the alternative positions inwhich our invention may selectively be adjusted.

As characterized herein, We have described our invention for use with a medical examination table or the like. This particular invention is particularly well suited for use by proctologists in their examination and minor surgical uses. However, it will be understood that the concept of our invention may be incorporated in any medical table including operating tables. Moreover, this invention is adaptable for use with chairs, such as dental chairs, as well as tables.

In order to more specifically characterize the nature of our invention, we have not illustrated nor attempted to describe the details of any particular medical table with which our invention is adapted for use. However, it will be understood that with reference to the drawings, a seat rest section generally indicated by the numeral may be rigidly mounted on an upright pedestal (not shown) "ice or may be pivotally mounted on an upright pedestal for articulation relative thereto and to one or more other table sections as desired.

The seat rest section 10 comprises a rigid frame or sub-structure 12 supporting a resilient pad 14, cushioning the seat or buttocks of the patient.

Our invention resides in the novel leg rest section generally indicated by the numeral 16, comprising a partial leg rest section, generally indicated by the numeral 18, and a knee rest section, generally indicated by the numeral 20. A leg rest section frame or sub-structure 22 (FIG. 1) has two laterally spaced arms 21 (FIG. 1) pivotally mounted at 23 to the seat-section frame 12.

The leg rest section 16 may be articulated with respect to the seat rest section 10 by means of a linkage, generally indicated by the numeral 24. Linkage 24 includes a depending arm 25 rigidly mounted on the lower side of frame 12, a male connecting arm 26 pivotally connected at 28 to depending arm 25 and telescopically received by a female connecting arm 29, in turn pivotally connected at 30 to the leg rest section frame 22.

Linkage 24 includes a locking mechanism (not shown) for releasably locking the leg rest section 16 in selectively adjusted positions relative to the seat rest section 10, the details of which locking mechanism we have not described since it is not essential to the concept of our invention; the locking mechanism (not shown) includes a manually operative handle 31.

The manually operative handle 31, illustrated in all views in a locked position, is pivoted in a clockwise direction to an unlocked position. It will be understood that the manually operative handle 31 controls a releasable locking means between the male connecting arm 26 and the female connecting arm 29 for locking the leg rest section 16 in any selected adjusted position, intermediate an upright position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and a perpendicular or vertical position illustrated in FIG. 2. The manually operative linkage 24 could be replaced by a hydraulically operated linkage or other automatic linkage for articulating the leg rest section 16 relative to the seat section 10. It will be further understood by those skilled in the art that any one of a number of known releasable locking mechanisms could be utilized to accomplish this end.

The partial leg rest section 18 comprises a resilient cushion 33 attached to a frame or shell 35 in turn rigidly connected, as for example by longitudinally spaced laterally extending support elements 36, to the leg rest section frame 22.

Leg rest section frame 22 carries a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending support extensions 38 (FIG. 1) on opposite sides thereof, carrying at their outer extremity longitudinally extending rails 40.

The knee rest section 20 comprises a resilient pad 42 attached to a frame or shell 44. We provide a pair of rail adaptors 46 rigidly mounted on opposite sides to the frame 44 of the knee rest section 20 in laterally spaced relationship. Each rail adaptor 46 has an enlarged portion 45 at its outer extremity. Enlarged portions 45 are each provided with a pair of milled T-slots 48 and 49 intersecting each other at substantially angles. Each of the slots 48 and 49 are constructed to slidably receive rails 40. Each of the enlarged portions 45 of rail adaptors 46 are provided with transverse threaded holes (not shown) at the intersection of slots 48 and 49. Each of these threaded holes (not shown) receive threaded locking screws 50 manually operative to releasably lock the knee rest section 20 in any selected position longitudinally of the rail 40, from a substantially abutting position with relation to partial leg rest section 18 (solid line in FIGS. 1-3) to an extended position (broken line in FIG. 1).

This construction provides means for telescoping the knee rest section 20 to vary the length of the leg rest section 16. This is a desirable feature of our invention because of varying heights of patients and varying purposes for which the table may be used.

'Heretofore, doctors have been faced with the awkward arrangement of a removable knee rest similar to the one generally indicated by the numeral 20; however, prior knee rests were not self storing, and presented the annoying problem of storage someplace in the examination or operating room.

While known knee rests have been adapted to form an extension of known leg rest sections, when the seat rest section was in a horizontal position, it was heretofore necessary to remove the knee rest section from the leg rest section prior to articulation of the leg rest section to the FIG. 2 position; otherwise the leg rest section would strike the floor, illustrated by the broken line 55 of FIG. 2.

With our invention, the doctor simply slides the knee rest section from the extended position, shown in broken lines. in FIG, 1, to the abutting position shown in solid lines prior to articulating the leg rest section 16 to the FIG. 2 position.

Moreover, with the prior constructions it was not possible to have the infinite variations in length of the leg rest section 16 now available to the doctor by the telescopic construction of the partial leg rest section 18 and knee rest section 20.

When the rest section 20 lies in the same plane as the partial leg rest section 18, thereby forming an integral part of the variable length leg rest section 16, the laterally spaced rails 40 are received by milled T slots 48. When it is desired that the patient assume a kneeling position, the rails 40 are received in milled T slots 49 and the knee rest section 20 is supported in a lateral or perpendicular position relative to the partial leg rest section 18 as illustrated in FIG. 4. It will be understood that, depending upon the desired position and the heights of the patients, the knee rest section 20 is adjustable longitudinally of the rails 40 to any desired position.

With reference to FIG. 5, we have shown the knee rest section reversed 180 so that a hard foot rest surface or table surface 56 is upright and the resilient knee cushion 42 is inverted. Thus, when the doctor wants the patient to assume an elevated standing position or wants to provide a step to aid the patient in assuming a sitting position on the edge of the seat section 10, the knee rest section 20 is locked in any selected position longitudinally of the rails 40 with the foot rest surface 56 upwardly disposed.

When in an upper-most position illustrated at 56A the hard surface 56 of the knee rest section may serve as an instrument table for the doctor or nurse when either standing, working on the patient or seated. When the doctor is seated, his knees may be received below the knee rest section 20.

We have provided a pair of safety stops 58 laterally extending from the outer extremity of the rails 40, thereby to prevent inadvertant or accidental dislodgement of the knee rest sectioin during adjustment thereof along the rails 40. It will be understood that for removal of the knee rest section 20 from the rails 40, it is necessary to back off both of the locking screws 50 a sufficient distance to pass over the safety stops 58.

It will be noted that the pivotal connection at 23, intermediate the leg rest section 16 and seat section 10, is spaced from the adjacent or abutting edge 59 of the seat rest section 10, thereby enabling the leg rest section 16 to be retracted behind the edge 59 of the seat rest section 10 when articulated to the FIG. 2 position. This permits the doctor greater access to the patient.

While we have shown and described the preferred form of mechanism of our invention, it will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made therein, particularly in the form and relation of parts, without departing from the spirit of our invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a medical examination table construction or the like, an improvement comprising,

(a) a partial leg rest section,

(b) a knee rest section, and

(c) means for releasably locking said sections together to form an extendable leg rest section, said means including means for extendably mounting said knee rest section on said partial leg rest section to vary the length of said leg rest section.

2. In a medical examination table construction or the like, an improvement comprising,

(a) a partial leg rest section,

(b) a knee rest section, and

(c) means for releasably locking said knee rest section in substantially abutting planar relationship with said partial leg rest section to form a leg rest section, said means including means for slidably mounting said knee rest section on said partial leg rest section to vary the length of said leg rest section.

3. A table construction in accordance with claim 2 in which,

((1) said slidable mounting means includes means for telescoping said knee rest section.

4. A table construction in accordance with claim 3 in which,

(c) said telescoping means comprises a pair of rails carried by said partial leg rest section and releasable locking means on said knee rest section for slidably mounting said knee rest section on said rails.

5. A table construction in accordance with claim 2 in which,

(d) said knee rest section has a knee rest surface and a foot rest surface, and

(c) said releasable locking means includes means for releasably locking said knee rest section on said partial leg rest section selectively with one of said surfaces being substantially lateral to said partial leg rest section and cooperative therewith to receive the knees or feet of patients respectively.

6. In a medical examination table construction or the like, having a seat rest section, an improvement compris- (a) a partial leg rest section,

(b) means for articulating said partial leg rest section relative to said seat rest section,

(c) a knee rest section,

(d) means for telescoping said knee rest section on said partial leg rest section to form a variable length leg rest section, and

(c) said telescoping means including means for mounting said knee rest section substantially laterally on said partial leg rest section.

7. In a medical examination table construction or the like, having a seat rest section, an improvement compIlSll'lg,

(a) a partial leg rest section,

(b) means for articulating said partial leg rest section relative to said seat section,

(c) a knee rest section,

(d) means for telescoping said knee rest section on said partial leg rest section to form a variable length leg rest section, and

(e) said telescoping means including means for mounting said knee rest section substantially laterally on said partial leg rest section, said telescoping means providing selective adjustment of said laterally mounted knee rest longitudinally of said partial leg rest section for receiving the knees of a patient relative to said seat section.

8. A table construction in accordance with claim 7 in which,

(f) said lateral mounting means includes means for reversing said knee rest section laterally With respect to said partial leg rest section to provide a foot surface, and

(g) said telescoping means and lateral mounting means includes selective adjustment of said laterally mounted knee rest section between a table position and a foot receiving position.

9. In a medical examination table construction or the like, an improvement comprising,

(a) a partial leg rest section,

(b) a knee rest section, and

(0) means for releasably locking said sections together to form a leg rest section said means including means for telescoping said knee rest section on said partial leg rest section to vary the length of said leg rest section.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. 

6. IN A MEDICAL EXAMINATION TABLE CONSTRUCTION OR THE LIKE, HAVING A SEAT REST SECTION, AN IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, (A) A PARTIAL LEG REST SECTION, (B) MEANS FOR ARTICULATING SAID PARTIAL LEG REST SECTION RELATIVE TO SAID SEAT REST SECTION, (C) A KNEE REST SECTION, (D) MEANS FOR TELESCOPING SAID KNEE REST SECTION ON SAID PARTIAL LEG REST SECTION TO FORM A VARIABLE LENGTH LEG REST SECTION, AND (E) SAID TELESCOPING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID KNEE REST SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY LATERALLY ON SAID PARTIAL LEG REST SECTION. 